title: Antinociceptive and gastroprotective actions of ethanolic extract from Pluchea sagittalis (Lam.) Cabrera.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pluchea sagittalis, an herbaceous plant widely distributed in South America, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive diseases and inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive and gastroprotective effects of the ethanolic extract (EE) of aerial parts from Pluchea sagittalis in rodents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antinociceptive effects of EE was evaluated in mice after oral administration in chemical tests (acetic-acid, glutamate and formalin) or by biting behavior following intrathecal administration of cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in mice. Furthermore, rats were treated with EE and subsequently exposed to acute gastric lesions induced by 80% ethanol. Afterwards the gastric lesion extension and the mucus levels of gastric mucosa were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The oral administration of EE showed a dose-dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions and glutamate-induced pain in mice, with ID(50) values of 624.0 (523.0-746.0) mg/kg and 368.0 (216.0-628.0) mg/kg, respectively. In the formalin test, the EE also produced significant inhibition of the inflammatory phase, with an ID(50) value of 411.0 (183.0-721.0) mg/kg; however, it was ineffective in the neurogenic phase caused by formalin. In addition, oral treatment with EE caused a significant inhibition of biting behavior induced by i.t. injection of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The antinociception caused by the EE (300 mg/kg, p.o.) was not reversed by naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) when assessed in the acetic acid writhing test. The EE (300-1000 mg/kg, p.o.) did not affect the motor coordination of animals in an open-field model. Oral treatment with the EE protected rats against gastric lesions induced by ethanol, with an ID(50) value of 55.0 (46.6-64.9) mg/kg, and increased the mucus levels of gastric mucosa to levels found in the non-lesioned group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mechanism by which the extract produced antinociception still remains unclear, but this effect seems to be primarily related to the modulation or inhibition of the action of pro-inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, these data support, at least in part, the ethnomedical use of Pluchea sagittalis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurobiology of Pain and Inflammation, Department of Physiological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonia Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Figueredo
authors.forename: Francisney Pinto
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.forename: Cristina Setim
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Cristiane Hatsuko
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Baggio
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soldi
authors.forename: Moacir Geraldo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pizzolatti
authors.forename: Maria del Carmen Chellion
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: de Ibarrola
authors.forename: Rosa Luisa Degen
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: de Arrua
authors.forename: Adair Roberto Soares
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019659:Asteraceae; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009270:Naloxone